The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.
Find out more about space activities in our 23 Member States, and understand how ESA works together with their national agencies, institutions and organisations.
Exploring our Solar System and unlocking the secrets of the Universe
Go to topicProtecting life and infrastructure on Earth and in orbit
Go to topicUsing space to benefit citizens and meet future challenges on Earth
Go to topicMaking space accessible and developing the technologies for the future
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ESA's celebration of 50 years in space was launched on 5 December, 2013, at the ECSAT naming ceremony on Harwell Campus. The European Centre for Space Applications and Telecommunications will commence work on its own building on the campus by 2015, which will be named after ESA's first DG Roy Gibson. The occasion was marked by current DG Jean-Jacques Dordain, Roy Gibson and UK Minister for Universities and Science David Willetts laying the stones of a sculpture that will be placed in the future building's courtyard. The sculpture also bears a plaque with the building's name.
Here, former DG Roy Gibson places the first stone of the ECSAT sculpture.